Venus as a Boy

I'm not going to explain anything about this film. If you live it, if you hate it, I think that says a lot about who you are. I'm not saying that it defines you negatively or positively, but it puts you into one of two camps. I know exactly which one I fall into. Loved every second of this film.

Wonderful and engaging cast. The story was very contemporary, and tackled highly personal and important topics of depictions of black men, in a manner that goes beyond how majority society pigeon holes them.

Ty Hodges wrote, directed and starred in this himself. I haven't seen anything he has done before but I hope I see more after this. This movie is so honest and open. The story telling is amazing, layered and artful. It explores a lot of very relevant things; social class, sincerity in art, love and identity. It is not done in a "shove it in your face" or preachy way, instead it feels genuine. Like you're just watching someone's life. There are more artistic scenes exploring the character's state of mind that are done so well. All the characters are written pretty well, even those more in the background feel real. Projects like this need more mainstream recognition cause they are few and far between.

First, the obvious - Ty Hodges is beatific and talented. Visually, this little film is stunning, with plenty of Burning Man/Instagram vibes to make it solidly a reflection of these Millenial/GenZ - social-media-obsessed times.

But what's special here is that this film manages to tell a story which POC - especially Black Men - aren't given the opportunity to tell. About an artist struggling with the concept of identity in a time where identity seems more like a commodity. About how Black art that isn't about "The Struggle" doesn't sell. I'm grateful we live in a time that stories like this one get to be told. Here's hoping for more like it.

33 year old attractive black man wants to be an artist but winds up being a serial girl toy for successful women. After some soul searching, he finally starts producing art and begins getting noticed for his work instead of his looks.

The acting, direction, and scenery are all well above average. The story was just okay.